Lawson Insley was a daguerreotyptist who operated in Australia and New Zealand during the 19th century.[1] He worked in portraiture and captured the earliest known portrait of Māori subjects.[2][3]

Insley arrived in Sydney in 1850. He set up a daguerreotype studio on George Street in September that year. Throughout the 1850s, Insley travelled between Australia and New Zealand, setting up studios and offering his services in portraiture.[4]

His most significant portrait was that of Caroline and Sarah Barrett, the daughters of trader Dicky Barrett and his wife Wakaiwa Rawinia. It was taken in New Plymouth in 1853.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "Lawson Insley". Puke Ariki Museum Libraries Tourist Information Taranaki New Zealand. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  2. ^ Main, William (1993). New Zealand Photography from the 1840s. Auckland, New Zealand: PhotoForum Inc. p. 4. ISBN 0-9597818-1-1.
  3. ^ a b Insley, Lawson; Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Daguerreotype of Caroline and Sarah Barrett, early 1850s". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  4. ^ Kerr, Joan. "Lawson Insley". Design and Art Australia Online. Retrieved 1 June 2019.